Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks up as he listens to U.S. President Donald Trump speak to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday deflected a reporter’s attempt to ask at a White House event about a New York Times article detailing the mega-billionaire’s alleged drug use during President Donald Trump‘s campaign last year and legal drama involving the mothers of his multiple children.
Musk, who led Trump’s DOGE government cost-cutting initiative, began talking over Fox News reporter Peter Doocy as Doocy asked him about the Times report, preventing the journalist from finishing his question.
The Times earlier Friday detailed what it said was Musk’s consumption of the anesthetic ketamine that “went well beyond occasional uses,” and his alleged use of Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.
“Is this the New York Times?” Musk said in the Oval Office, as Trump sat next to him.
“Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on … Russia-gate?” he asked, referring to articles about Trump’s first presidential campaign.
“I think the judge just ruled against The New York Times for their lies about the Russia-gate hoax, and that they might have to give back that prize,” Musk said. “Let’s move on.”
NBC News has not independently confirmed the details in the Times’ article about Musk, who is the world’s richest person, and whose companies include the U.S. government contractor SpaceX.
NBC has reached out for comment from the White House and Musk, but there was no immediate response.
The Times updated its story after it was published with a White House spokesman’s comment “crediting Mr. Musk with helping cut government waste.”
“He declined to comment on Mr. Musk’s drug use,” the spokesman said, according to the Times.
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
